Egg-crate.



J. A. JOHNSON.

EGG CRATE.

APPLICATION FILED sPT.25.1915.

Patented July 31, 1917.-

2 SHEETSSHEET 1' 9)04. Hes A20 J. A. JOHNSON.

EGG CRATE.

APPLICATION FlLED 812F125, 1915. 1,235,482. Patented July 31,1917.

2 SHEETS SHEEl' 2- JOHN A. JOHNSON, 0F LEXINGTON, MISSISSIPPI.

nee-canon.

Application filed September 25, 1915.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOHN A. JOHNSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lexington, in the county of Holmes, State of Mississippi, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Egg-Crates; and I do hereby declare the following to .be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The present invention is directed to improvements in egg crates, and has for its objectto provide a device of this character constructed of metal, and one which may be compactly folded for shipment and readily set up for use.

A. further object of the invention is to pro vide a crate of this character so constructed that the parts of the same when set up will be firmly connected so as to prevent breakof the eggs during transit.

With these and other objects in view, this invention resides in the novel features of construction, formation, combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more fully described. claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device in its set up position.

Fig. is a longitudinal sectional view therethrough.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view through the device when folded.

Fig. 1 is a sectional view on line 1% of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary top plan view.

Referring to the drawing 1 indicates the bottom of the crate, which is provided with vertical side and end flanges 2 and 3, re spectivcly, said end flanges being provided with extensions #1 which fold upon the outer surfaces of the sides 2, and are riveted thereto.

Hingedly connected to the upper edges of the flanges 2 are sides 5. said sides being provided at their ends with flanges 6, which are adapted to engage the side edges of the ends 7, said ends being pivotally connected to the upper edges of the flanges It will be of course understood that the flanges 6 engage the ends 7 only when thecrate is in its set up position.

Pivotally connected to the inner surfaces of the ends 7 are hooks 8, which are adapted Specification of Letters Eatent.

Patented July 31, 1917.

Serial No. 52,887.

to detachably engage the keepers 9 carried the inner surfaces of the sides 5 and ad- ]acent each end thereof. When the hooks 8 are engaged in the keepers 9 it is obvious that the sides and ends will be held against accidental folding.

A division plate 10 is provided and has its lower edge fixed to the bottom 1 and its ends fixed to the flanges 2, said plate having hingedly connected thereto the partition 11, which when in its vertical position, serves in conjunction with the plate 10 to divide the crate into compartments for receiving the usual egg cells. Hingedly connected to the free edge of the partition 11 is a hasp 12.

Hingedly connected to the ends 7 are the cover sections 13 which have their free edges provided with slots 14, which when in registry receive the hasp 12, which is swung downwardly upon the uppermost section 13, and is engaged by the bail 14, said bail being pivotally supported by the section. The hasp has its free end provided with a sleeve 15 in which is engaged the wire 16, said wire being engaged in the perforation 17 formed in the car 18. The ear 18 is struck out from the hasp 12 so that the ends of the wire can be conveniently passed through the perforation 17, after which a suitable seal is applied to the wire so that the top sections cannot be opened without first breaking the seal.

The top sections 13 are each provided with flanges 19, which extend half way the length of the sides of the sections 13, and are adapted to engage the outer edges of the sides 5 when the crate is in its set up position. After the top sections and ends have been folded the sides 5 are folded, and one of the sides is provided with a swinging latch 23 which is adapted to engage over the adjacent side so as to hold the entire crate compactly folded.

By mounting the hasp 12 in the manner set forth, it is obvious that when the same is in its locked position it will be out of the way so that crates can be piled one upon the other.

Carried by one of the top sections 13 is a holder 21 and in which is engaged a card 22, which may have written thereon the address of the person to which the crate is being shipped.

When the crate is in its folded position the pivoted latch 23, which is carried by one of the sides 5 is swung so as to engage the adjacent side, thereby preventing the sides from opening accidentally.

T'Vhat I claim is:

A foldable crate comprising a bottom, having side and end flanges, sides and ends hingedly connected to the respective flanges, a plate fixed transversely of the bottom and of less height than the depth of said side flanges, a partition hingedly connected to said plate and adapted, when the crate is folded, to extend in a substantially horizontal position, top sections hingedly connected to the free edges of said ends and having flanges formed upon their sides and of less length than said sections, one of said top sections and one of said ends being supported, when folded, by said partition, the

other top section and end being supported, in folded position, by engagement of the top section With the first mentioned end, the sides of said crate being foldable over said top sections and ends to form a closure for the crate, when folded, means for lock ing said sides in their folded positions, a hasp hingedly connected to the upper edge of the partition and adapted for passage through the top sections when the crate is unfolded, and means for locking said hasp.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature, in the presence of two Witnesses.

JGHN A. JOHNSON.

l itnesses G. C. Ran), C. M. MURPHY.

Gopies oi this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. E. 

